Thread: Simultaneously Update Two Variables

Is there a way to simultaneously update two variables, like in Python?

For example

Code:

x, y = 0, 1
x, y = y, x + y

Nope, just write them on two lines:

Code:

x = 0;
y = 1;

On a related note, to save you the possible question, there is no way to return multiple variables/values from a function either. That is, unless they're bundled in a struct or something, in which case you're still really only returning one thing (the struct), not multiple, individual items.

Hmm, you could do:

x = 0, y = 1;
t = y, y += x, x = t;

Note, the following is not to "knock" your suggestion, merely point out some stuff for the OP, since they appear to be new to C.

Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

Hmm, you could do:

x = 0, y = 1;
t = y, y += x, x = t;

By the same argument, I could just do

Code:

x = 0; y = 1;
t = y; y += x; x = t;

The one-line aspect is just a matter of white space. Using the comma operator doesn't offer anything that can't be achieved with a semicolon, especially since the comma operator introduces a sequence point (without which you would open the door for issues of evaluation order and undefined behavior).

The only useful case for the comma operator that comes to mind is when you need multiple initialization or increment expressions in a for loop. Any other uses just seem like syntactic sugar that does little to nothing to improve the code, it's readability, etc.

EDIT: Just Googled and found this: Comma operator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. That case might be useful. All the others have, IMO, better alternatives.